New Parrot discovered in Queensland

23/06/2006 00:00:00 December 2006. North Queensland naturalist and wildlife cinematographer John Young has found a previously unknown fig-parrot in rugged, almost impenetrable, montane forest after a long and exhaustive search across two Australian states. Although John Young has known of the bird’s existence for a decade, he only recently obtained clear evidence that this new parrot differs from the elusive and endangered Coxen’s fig-parrot that overlaps in range. Amazingly, the bird has gone undetected for 130 years since John Gould described the first fig-parrot in Australia.

Previously, just 3 fig-parrots were known to occur in Australia and all are regarded as subspecies of the double-eyed fig-parrot. This exquisite, new ‘blue–fronted fig-parrot’ represents, at the very least, a fourth fig-parrot subspecies or perhaps even a separate species. Fig-parrots live in tropical and subtropical rainforests and feed on rainforest fruits and flowers while excavating nesting hollows in dead trees.

Environment Minister the Hon. Lindy Nelson-Carr MP congratulated Mr Young on his find, and on his persistence in searching for the elusive parrots. ‘The advancement of knowledge about elusive and rare species in Queensland’s forests depends upon dedicated science and perseverance. This is an exciting discovery, and I’m delighted that QPWS and John Young Wildlife Enterprises are collaborating to document the find and determine its taxonomic status through genetic analysis.

‘The conservation significance of this discovery is enormous, both for managing the bird and its habitat. Much future work is now needed to determine the distribution of this bird in relation to that of Coxen's fig-parrot. It raises the question of what other natural wonders lie hidden in Australia's wilds, ’ the Minister said.

Unconfirmed fig-parrot sightings from the Burnett region and the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast hinterlands have been received by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service over the last decade, yet no official photograph, specimen or ‘sound recording has been forthcoming. The question is which of these reports relate to Coxen’s fig-parrot and which relate to this new find.

John Young has spent over 30 years locating and filming rare and endangered wildlife species including Bennett’s tree-kangaroo, black-breasted button-quail, Gouldian finch, red goshawk, and eastern bristlebird. He is presently working with the QPWS and New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service to locate nests and adult eastern bristlebirds – another endangered species – as part of the recovery program.